SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Salve Regina University has been selected as the preseason favorite to win the 2012-13 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Women's Basketball Championship, it was announced today by Commissioner Gregg M. Kaye. Voting for the preseason poll was conducted among the league's head women's basketball coaches.

Defending conference champion Salve Regina (19-10, 13-5 CCC) received seven of a possible 10 first place votes in the 2012-13 CCC preseason poll. University of New England (22-6, 16-2) was selected to finish second, while acquiring one first place vote. Endicott College (18-12, 12-6), the 2011-12 runner-up, and Roger Williams University (14-12, 11-7) tied to finish third, while Western New England University was slated to finish fifth, respectively. Rounding out the remaining five slots were Curry College (sixth), Eastern Nazarene College (seventh), Nichols College (eighth), Gordon College (ninth), and Wentworth Institute of Technology (10th).

Returning four starters from a season ago, Wentworth (2-23, 2-16) will look to veterans for improvement upon last season's finish. The Leopards lost six games by single digits last season, including three by a combined 10 points. Leading the way for Wentworth is junior Kendra Kerr, an All-CCC selection from a season ago. As a sophomore, Kerr averaged 12.8 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 2.4 steals per game, while recording 10 double-doubles. Senior Ashley Conway, who led Wentworth in 3-pointers made a season ago, returns after averaging 7.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game. Classmate Jordan Biggar averaged 10.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per contest a season ago. Senior Ashley Stowe and juniors Christine Henry and Danielle Miranda also return for the Black & Gold.

Wentworth opens the 2012-13 season on Thursday night at Lasell.

(Portions of this release taken from a Commonwealth Coast Conference release)